Since the lot is not large enough to construct a parking lot of that size, the Moyers sought a special exception to reduce the number from eight to four.

Community members — just over 10 in attendance — argued this would push apartment tenants into street parking, which they say is already scarce for those who live in the neighborhood.

Neighbors collected about two dozen signatures on a petition objecting to the Moyers' appeal and calling for the need for adequate parking for the tenants. In other words, eight off-street spots.

Janet Moyer and her attorney Craig Neely, a former Emmaus borough manager and council member, told the zoning board that apartments wouldn't create more traffic than the day care.

Janet Moyer said she and her husband acquired the property in 1984 and operated a day care there until October 2014. She said the business had about 15 employees serving up to 60 children.

Neely argued that these 50 or so cars that were dropping off and picking up children created more of a traffic hazard then a four-unit residential building would.

Councilman Brent Labenberg presented a statement on behalf of the Emmaus Borough Council opposing the conversion because of the parking situation.

"We should only allow as many units as there are parking spaces," he said.

Neely offered the option of converting the building into two apartments with two bedrooms each.

Donna Gockley, an Elm Street resident for 40 years, said two apartments would likely attract families with fewer cars and less frequent visitors.

Labenberg said council did not have any objection to the possibility of a two-unit apartment.

But the two-bedroom option was not without its own parking problems.

Under zoning rules, the building would need 6,000 square feet of parking, while it currently has enough room for 5,899 square feet.

When it came time to vote, the zoners voted 3-0 against allowing the building to be converted into four apartments and 2-1 against reducing parking to four spaces for a four-unit building. Roger Steinmayr voted no to rejecting the parking variance.

Theodore Iobst, Susan Schmidt and Steinmayr then voted in favor of allowing a two-unit building. In a 2-1 vote, the board approved a variance to allow the 5,899-square foot parking. Iobst voted no.

But with variances for a two-unit building and parking formally granted, Iobst pointed out that the parking lot as designed is not feasible for even four spots, that having any more than three parking spots would result in little room for cars to maneuver. Looking at the plans, Farnsworth confirmed.

This was news to both the board and the applicants.

"This leaves the applicant in a very difficult spot," Neely said. "The applicant was advised that the parking lot as designed satisfied the ordinance."

With that, the board decided to continue this matter and waive the continuance fee for the Moyers. The amended appeal will be addressed at the next zoning hearing at 6 p.m. June 25.